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Highway 144 Wildlife Area hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Highway 144 Wildlife Area: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Highway 144 Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Highway 144 Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- GateGate · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Water Spirit PreserveParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
The short version on Highway 144 Wildlife Area
In Washington County you will find Highway 144 Wildlife Area, a DNR state wildlife area. On the DNR map it belongs to the Southeast Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 33 acres it sits 251st by area in a field of 285 state wildlife areas. Distances are from the county centre of Washington County because the DNR lists no point; West Bend is the town page closest to it.
From the source page (DNR property page (33-acre)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Highway 144 Wildlife Area
Highway 144 Wildlife Area, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
Highway 144 Wildlife Area is a 33-acre parcel that is located on Highway 144 approximately 1.2 miles south of Highway 33 in the West Bend Township (T.11N R.19E. Sec 20). The property is adjacent to Gilbert Lake and is mostly wetlands with 11 acres of agricultural fields. The property was purchased in 1995 to protect and enhance the warm water fish spawning and nursing habitat in Gilbert Lake. Since being purchased, the property has been managed to produce cover that can be used by wildlife in order to provide hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Highway 144 Wildlife Area: what is allowed
How access works on Highway 144 Wildlife Area
State seasons and Wisconsin licenses are all you need, except in posted refuges and closed zones; NR 45 governs use of the property.
Highway 144 Wildlife Area: rules from the regulations
From the October youth hunt through the Holiday Hunt, blaze orange or pink covers half of your upper clothing and cap. Mark a ground blind with 144 square inches of blaze orange or pink while firearm deer seasons run. Tree stands: no tree damage, ID on unattended stands, overnight only north of Hwy. 64 during Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What Highway 144 Wildlife Area costs in licenses
Buy through Go Wild; the free Farmland tags and bonus tags are marked public-access or private-land, and only public-access ones work here.
Access from the source page; closures from the DNR closed and restricted areas layer; stocking and dove fields from the DNR upland bird layers; rules from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations; prices from Go Wild. Checked October 19, 2026.
Tags and zones for Highway 144 Wildlife Area
For deer it lies in the Southern Farmland zone (Washington). This season the unit quota is 2,200 antlerless deer. Zone F bear permits took 1 preference point in 2026; the target is 50 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 2 was 51,056 authorizations; 11,024 birds were registered. Washington County: CWD found in wild deer, and a CWD-positive deer earns a replacement authorization. No deer bait or feed: Washington County is a ban county.
Highway 144 Wildlife Area: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Southern Farmland | 2,200 | 500 | 1,550 | 3 |
| Milwaukee Metro Sub-unit | Metro area | In parent quota | — | — | — |
Every other zone Highway 144 Wildlife Area touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear F | Hounds barred | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Goose zone | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Gray wolf zone 6 | No season | Federally listed |
Zones from the DNR zone layers as recorded in lands.json; quotas and bonus tags from the 2026 antlerless quota table; bear figures from the 2026 bear drawing summary and 2025 bear harvest; turkey from the 2025 spring turkey report; CWD and baiting lists from the DNR. Checked October 19, 2026.
Quarry and limits, Highway 144 Wildlife Area
The list for Highway 144 Wildlife Area reads: raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Furbearers
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other Washington County seasons apply under the same rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Highway 144 Wildlife Area season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Highway 144 Wildlife Area.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery and crossbow | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth/disabled gun hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun deer (9-day) | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Milwaukee | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | December antlerless hunt | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt: Washington | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended archery and crossbow | Extended archery | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 2 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite Quail | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Hungarian partridge | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Squirrel | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Southern cottontail zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe Hare | Snowshoe hare | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| American Crow | Crow | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Mar 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 2) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Southern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (holiday split) | Southern Goose Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (resident) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (nonresident) | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red and gray fox | Fox (red and gray) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote (hunting) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 1 | North of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 1 | South of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | North of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | South of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 hunting regulations and season dates, checked October 19, 2026.
Nearest public ground to Highway 144 Wildlife Area, mapped
Without coordinates for Highway 144 Wildlife Area, the map shows only the public land nearest the Washington County centre. Acres across them: 68,637.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allenton Marsh | Wildlife area | 1,159 | 4.9 mi | west |
| Jackson Marsh | State natural area | 590 | 6.8 mi | southeast |
| Jackson Marsh | Wildlife area | 2,482 | 6.8 mi | southeast |
| Kettle Moraine State Forest Pike Lake Unit | State forest | 781 | 6.8 mi | southwest |
| Kettle Moraine | State forest | 55,890 | 7.0 mi | southwest |
| Cedar Creek Streambank Protection Area | Habitat area | 101 | 7.0 mi | southeast |
| Milwaukee River Floodplain Forest | State natural area | 77 | 7.9 mi | north |
| Kewaskum Maple-Oak Woods | State natural area | 42 | 8.1 mi | north |
| Cedarburg Bog | State natural area | 1,757 | 11 mi | east |
| Theresa Marsh | Wildlife area | 5,758 | 11 mi | northwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (county centre, no point published). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Registered deer and bears near Highway 144 Wildlife Area
The 2025 registered deer total for the Washington County unit was 3,731 (1,656 antlered). 2025 was the busiest year shown (3,731 deer) and 2017 the leanest (2,742). The 2026 season to date shows 136 deer in Washington; the DNR calls it preliminary. 172 samples, 0 positive: that is Washington County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 2 of 1,827. These numbers describe the county around Highway 144 Wildlife Area, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Highway 144 Wildlife Area
| Year | Bucks registered | Antlerless registered | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,656 | 2,075 | 3,731 |
| 2024 | 1,563 | 1,864 | 3,427 |
| 2023 | 1,412 | 1,560 | 2,972 |
| 2022 | 1,373 | 1,804 | 3,177 |
| 2021 | 1,247 | 1,593 | 2,840 |
| 2020 | 1,357 | 2,043 | 3,400 |
Washington County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 172 | 0 |
| 2024 | 142 | 0 |
| 2023 | 118 | 1 |
| 2022 | 146 | 0 |
| 2021 | 132 | 0 |
Deer from DNR Deer Metrics harvest history and the 2026 harvest to date; CWD from the DNR CWD summary; bears from the DNR bear harvest reports. Checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Highway 144 Wildlife Area
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Bend | Washington | 3.2 mi | 32,149 | 9,587 |
| Allenton | Washington | 6.0 mi | — | 9,485 |
| Jackson | Washington | 6.0 mi | 8,169 | 5,035 |
| Kewaskum | Washington | 8.8 mi | 4,564 | 21,697 |
Our county write-ups: Washington County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Highway 144 Wildlife Area
Service centers near Highway 144 Wildlife Area
For Washington County, the DNR points to its DNR Waukesha Service Center.
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates; public acres within 10 miles from the land layers; businesses from store locators and listings (license-only agents left out); offices from DNR, USFS and USFWS pages. Checked October 19, 2026. Call ahead.
When the shooting day opens and closes at Highway 144 Wildlife Area
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Highway 144 Wildlife Area lies in longitude Zone B, so add 4 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 5:59 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:43 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:04 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:32 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:44 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:03 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey table times from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shooting hours tables, plus the Zone B offset of 4 minutes for longitude 88.23 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Highway 144 Wildlife Area in questions and answers
Is a permit required for Highway 144 Wildlife Area?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
How fast must I register a kill on Highway 144 Wildlife Area?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Who is the land manager for Highway 144 Wildlife Area?
The Wisconsin DNR manages it; the land is a DNR state wildlife area.
What neighbours Highway 144 Wildlife Area?
Closest first: Allenton Marsh Wildlife Area (5 miles), Jackson Marsh State Natural Area (7 miles) and Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area (7 miles).
How far is the drive from West Bend to Highway 144 Wildlife Area?
Washington County, roughly 3 miles out of West Bend. The county centre stands in for a map point.
How large is Highway 144 Wildlife Area, in acres?
Acreage on record: 33.
Is Highway 144 Wildlife Area forest or farmland deer country?
Washington in the Southern Farmland zone. The unit quota stands at 2,200 antlerless deer this year.
Which game does Highway 144 Wildlife Area list?
The source lists raccoons, foxes and coyotes. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
Is Highway 144 Wildlife Area good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 2; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Highway 144 Wildlife Area?
Bear Zone F: 764 permits drawn for 2026.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Highway 144 Wildlife Area?
Deer bait is illegal in Washington County. Washington County: CWD-positive deer on record.
Is Highway 144 Wildlife Area in the northern or southern duck zone?
Southern duck zone and Southern goose zone. First regular duck day in the Southern Zone: Oct 3.
Can pink replace orange at Highway 144 Wildlife Area?
Yes while gun deer seasons are open; half your upper clothing and hat in orange or fluorescent pink.
Highway 144 Wildlife Area, final notes
Print the Highway 144 Wildlife Area map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: hwy144 · DNR: alpha · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: xulescu_g (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain).